Rapper Macklemore launched his sold-out Free Palestine Tour in Dublin on Monday, Oct. 26, receiving a massive welcome in a city where pro-Palestinian support runs deep, NBC News reported. The charity run follows his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over onstage remarks supporting Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Bottom Line
- Macklemore kicked off his charity tour in Dublin on Oct. 26 after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
- Special guests included Hozier, Kneecap, and the backing band Beoga, who previously exited Sheeran’s tour in solidarity.
- Proceeds from the tour benefit various organizations supporting the Palestinian movement, with upcoming stops scheduled in Paris and London.
Dublin Welcomes the Opening Night of the Tour
The charity run kicked off in Dublin on Monday, Oct. 26, with special guest appearances from Hozier, Kneecap, and Beoga, the backing band that dropped out of Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, according to Rolling Stone. “The times are changing, we’ve never been prouder to be from the country we’re from,” Beoga stated onstage. During his set, Hozier celebrated Ireland’s history of “global solidarity when it comes to emancipation and justice. A wonderful history of anti-racism, also.” Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul performed early in the night, alongside rapper M-1 of Dead Prez and Palestinian-American DJ and producer DJ Habibeats. Irish actor Liam Cunningham delivered opening remarks, telling the crowd, “Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza. It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect.” Psychotherapist and activist Nadia Greenspan and activist Samir Eskanda also appeared on the lineup. Celebrities including Mark Ruffalo, Julian Casablancas, Cynthia Nixon, Ilana Glazer, and Natasha Rothwell contributed video messages of support.
The Fallout Leading to the Tour
Macklemore’s Free Palestine Tour got underway more than a month after the rapper was removed as an opener on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour for making onstage comments in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and calling for a “free Palestine,” Rolling Stone reported. “I’ve spent the last week reaching out to artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences,” Macklemore said while announcing the tour in September. “Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.” Sheeran stated that the decision to pull Macklemore from the Loop Tour came down to venue owners and promoters, including the Kraft Group’s Robert Kraft. Beoga explained their departure by stating, “We have made the decision to depart as Ed Sheeran’s band on the remaining US Loop tour, following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.” Kneecap also voiced support, noting, “They can never silence the truth.”
Charity Beneficiaries and Upcoming Dates
Proceeds from the tour will benefit a collection of organizations supporting the Palestinian movement, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestinian Youth Movement, Heal Palestine, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Jewish Voices for Peace, and the UNRWA USA National Committee, according to Rolling Stone. Following the Dublin kickoff, Macklemore’s sold-out tour will continue in Paris on Oct. 29, followed by a performance in London on Oct. 30.
More on Free Palestine Tour
Macklemore closes out his “Free Palestine” tour kickoff in Dublin with “Can’t Hold Us.” pic.twitter.com/5VWMW7OYTA
